assimigration

The play will be performed with mime as the only supplement to dialogue and actions in all scenes.

When we dream we return to the mountain

Evaporating up into the clouds into something less than consciousness, then reborn to pure droplets in fresh water.

(Will talking to a group of people offstage)

Will: I am glad that the mandate has passed, of course. You all know and follow the holy laws. But sister, we will pray for strength and courage for your ministerial board. (Will notices Isaac standing in a corner.) Peace, and may we be free in divinely ordained authority. (waves them off) Be blessed, brothers and sisters. Enjoy lunch!

Will: (shakes hand) Hello brother, how have you been?

Isaac: Blessed. (They hug for a long time.)

Will: have you been alright? How’s work at the site going? We’ve missed you in the fellowship for some time now.

Isaac: It’s—It has been busy. But I see that it is good, that the fellowships help a lot.

Will: I am honoured to serve with you in spirit and in truth, Brother Isaac.

Isaac: Yes. Yes.

Will: And truth dwells well with the spirit. (silence holds for a beat)

Isaac: Brother, I have confessions.

Will: Of course, we all do.

Isaac: I was wondering—

Will: Please, brother in spirit.

Isaac: I feel angry. A lot, for the way I do not fit into my job, this place, this new life that has been dragging me —And 

Will: You feel lost.

Isaac: I feel lost.

Will: You do. It is good, Brother Isaac, to affirm our sins. That is the first step to emerging whole, and healed.

Isaac: When I feel lost I feel angry and it hits me down hard every time.

Will: Isaac. You know you can contact-

Isaac: I stand up again and again, but I am not strong.

Will: Physically you are not, but we can build better fortresses to champion holiness in 

Will: It wasn’t until I was in church one day, and I was going to a few churches that were fine with gay marriage, and a few churches that weren’t, and the Lord impressed upon my heart – he said – “You do not fear me although you love me.”

To understand the gospel properly you need to know that God is holy, that he is to be revered, that he is who he is – his nature, what he is like.

That is the fear of the Lord.

So I realised that I loved God but I did not fear him. My love was not real.

It was at that point when I said “Lord, my heart does not fear you.”

I think it is about purity of the heart – what John Wesley and others talked about a lot, the idea that when you fear him, you know who he is, you know his love properly and truly.

That shifted me out of this “I need to obey this law” to “this is grace – this is the power to live a holy life.” A life that is set apart.

You fear the idea of dealing with your shit

And you know what? That is fully your problem. You jerk off to this, don’t you? Any attention that burns you makes you feel a little more alive. 

 “Which Precinct are you from?” The dull tone of the question booms again like a death knell inside your skull. 

Muffled cries from the protestors ring incessantly from the treeline. Mouth dry, you try to stop your insides from reverberating in abandon before answering.

What’s going on outside there?

The officer looks at Isaac stonily.

“No Precinct. I’m from Earth.” you finally say. You now know what they actually want to hear when they ask that question. It didn’t go well the last time when you answered differently. You curl your fingers and feel the nails biting into your palms as the OrderOfficer begins scribbling in her notepad. 

Dimly, you hear the protestors' voices creeping closer, floating in and out of your comprehension. They have always shouted too quickly. 

Officer: Best you keep on your path and don’t stray from it. The protestors are getting testy these days since this new mandate set in.

Despite the obvious fear, your heart maintains a sluggish trudge, obstinately fighting the atmosphere. Even after the final transition over to the Colony of Dirt, its air is still unnaturally heavy for your lungs. A tricep finally stops its spasms, and you feel drained. 

What they say is true, you only miss the OxyTube when they take it away from you. 

A Caucasian —who is next in line— stares blearily at you. You stare back, your back arching involuntarily, flaring with heat as the Officer’s needle digs into your shoulders. Another chip implantation. 

“That’s it, migrant. You’re fully legal now.” The OrderOfficer steps away, and motions you to go ahead. You start walking to the site you've been assigned to. 

You try not to watch the raging crowd pressing right up against the alloy fence. One by one, they begin spitting at your feet as you walk past the open corridor to the construction center. 

A few reporters loiter at the door, and you hear them begin rolling on film as soon as they see you. 

“Waves of Migrant workers have been alighting on Dirt ever since Earth had its first Wasting-” one announced over the crowd’s cacophony into their camera.

“Today, a relocation of these workers have arrived in North Precinct, ready to commence the logging of Ranglar Reserve, as named by NatureGuard.” 

The crowd begins hurling clods of dirt in your general direction.

Another reporter—this one sporting an umbrella—rushes to your side and keeps a brisk stride. “What plans do you have when you go back to Earth? Do you plan to return at all?” she breathlessly asks as dirt thunders off her umbrella. 

You bite your lip, keeping your arms swinging, your gaze fixed on your destination. You grab a nu-Saw as you pass the tool rack. 

The reporter is relentless. “How long have you worked on Dirt? Do you agree with the consequences of your work? What do you say to the ecosystem’s-” You reach the first tree, lungs burning for thinner air. 

“I want to go home eventually. See my kids.” you manage to croak. “My eleventh contract year.” The microphone creeps closer to your chin.

“In this life here, hope is, my only gift, my only strength. Hope is all that keeps me going.” You grip the nu-Saw tighter. “I need to provide. So stand back.” 

The first strain of the saw drowns out everything else.

Isaac fingers his prayer beads.

You are living in a foreign world Isaac. And here, I am but a foreign god. And yet I protect you, and give you comfort—a place of sanctification in the mind so cluttered. I am the extension you need, the protection you’ve always known, and it is with my authority that you work wonders, even when you were born mentally weak.

So I would say we have to know who God really is and he is a tender hearted loving father, But he is also holy. It gave me the capacity to give up that old life, and to follow him. Give me strength to continue working towards your will.

I’ve acted in so many roles in my life, and lived so many realities dreamt out by the young and the old 

 That doesn’t mean the law does not show us what is sinful. Or show us how we fail. But it can not be the way to get there. And I had to learn that.  People need to know it is not law, it is relationship. It is grace. That was the most profound realisation I had that changed my view on this.